Degendrager, fragment, een klep met ijzeren scharnier c. 1590 - 1596

Curator: This intriguing object, housed at the Rijksmuseum, is titled "Degendrager, fragment, een klep met ijzeren scharnier"— or, in English, "Sword carrier, fragment, a flap with iron hinge." It dates back to approximately 1590-1596. Editor: It looks like a piece of aged armor. Grim. Fragmented, as the title suggests, but the way the light catches those metallic elements is striking. There's an inherent aggression in its angles. Curator: Indeed, aggression forged from iron and wood. We know little of its maker. The focus then shifts to its craftsmanship and intended purpose. Think of the labor invested. Carving the wood, forging the metal, constructing something to bear the weight - both physical and symbolic - of a sword. Editor: I immediately read symbolic weight there, thinking of what a sword signifies. Power, certainly. But also protection, authority, justice, and the constant threat of violence in the period when this piece was crafted and worn. What does a carrier imply, a burden? A hidden side to all this? Curator: The craftsmanship, particularly the ironwork is exceptional when considering that period's production capacity. The object's anonymous origins underscores this period’s transition from skilled tradesman to a world shifting toward industrial outputs. The social meaning becomes a point for reflection. Editor: You know, I find the preservation here very powerful. What remains almost transcends its initial functionality. I read the worn leather and darkened metal as markers of memory and the passage of time, imbuing a fragment with a tangible aura of medieval life and the culture from which it arose. Curator: Fascinating how material endurance becomes imbued with new layers of historical weight. This makes us re-evaluate traditional ideas surrounding value of artistry and artifact production. Editor: Exactly. So perhaps even a fragment holds entire visual narrative we could explore further… Curator: Agreed; even in broken forms, histories leave potent marks.